@Kentucky - 12/29/23 - 6 pm - SEC Network

[KingO]

I don't think anyone is bashing any players, as like you said pops, they are all competing. But I don't think anyone can agree that the 3 point shooting has been less than stellar. Kinziger and Banks are the only ones hitting at a decent clip. It's hard to blame it on them playing a great team because a lot of these shots are wide open and it's been a season long issue. I fully expect Mal to start hitting. He doesn't hang his head and hope he keeps shooting.
Lieb on the other hand, should not attempt another 3.

 

[SlackBooDom]

Ok here goes nothing I guess. Yes as a team we’re a bad deep ball shooting team this year. Mal have been really bad at it, I agree. Shooting hand wrist still bothers him from the trip to the er after a practice after the 3rd game of the season, I also believe he broke a finger on his shooting hand a while back this year that wasn’t taken care of. To top it off he’s been playing with a bum right ankle as well. This is a perfect reason while only one of many I’m not to bash a kid competing. Some of us adults probably would take a day off from work because of minor injuries. I myself years ago broke three toes on my foot and didn’t miss a minute of work. No excuses ever for me for absolutely anything. I’m just saying fans react and speak when they’re clueless to the question why. There were no bench production last night against the No. 8 team in the country, one who like to play 100mph because of their athleticism, what did any of us really expect to happen. I thought going into this game we’d lose by 25/30 pts. I want surprised at the outcome. Quick question how many UK’s are in the Valley. Let me guess, none. The starters put up 65 of the teams 70 pts. The starters shot 47% from the field. Come on man get that consistently from them in the Valley and they will win more than they lose. More assists to only 8 turnovers, so what are the fan base really crying about. THIS WAS AGAINST KENTUCKY.

This is why I didn't feel the need to post to elaborate more, but you want to be on the board and I had an opinion to share. Our guards and wings have been bad. I hope they are not in the MVC. It would help us a lot. I never said they're not competing. I'm not bashing anyone. Just stating facts.

 

[Scipio]

Perspective. KU is a Top 10 team in the nation. Elite as Coach Pedon said in his post game press conference. We take better shots; and make few more it’s a closer game. Free throws are still hurting us. Got to do better from the stripe. Positives; we out rebounded them on offensive boards. That was Calipari’s first comment in his presser. And we only turned the ball over 8 times; if I’m not mistaken. I’m hoping our Team takes some positives from this game and gets better in conference play. Go Birds!

 

[Popsto4]

This is why I didn't feel the need to post to elaborate more, but you want to be on the board and I had an opinion to share. Our guards and wings have been bad. I hope they are not in the MVC. It would help us a lot. I never said they're not competing. I'm not bashing anyone. Just stating facts.

Facts are always truthful. I respect your opinion and never said your opinion isn’t a valid one. I was simply replying to your post.

 

[Phantom]

We could've played better...but overall we weren't too bad IMHO. Score was about what I expected, although had we shot better (both from deep and a few bunnies) and hit some FTs, we probably only lose by 10-15. The biggest issue was we couldn't get out of the miss a shot/give up a basket trap. Happened on several posession changes. We played hard. It wasn't as easy on them as the final score indicated...but at the end of the day, we still got whipped.

Learn from it, flush it, and get ready for the MVC bloodbath. We're gonna be competitive.

 

[ISU86]

I don't think we learned much coming out of this game that we were not aware of going in (possibly that Foster has a higher ceiling). Our areas of concern showed up (particularly shooting (free throw and three point)). My hope was Kentucky would come out flat and unfocused after the Holiday break.

Side Note: how many points have we scored coming out of a break versus given up? One thing you have to give HCD. credit for is it seemed once a game he had a play ready to get a bucket in that scenario.

I think the Drake game coming up could be more of the same before we settle back in.

Nothing has changed re: conference. I always expected we would be playing on Friday but would have to win Thursday to do so. A five to eight seed going in seems where we should land.

 

[WoodlandWarrior]

I find it ironic that much has been said / written about Kentucky’s athleticism. But when Muller recruited “athletes”, we didn’t get the result that we wanted.

 

[MadBird]

I find it ironic that much has been said / written about Kentucky’s athleticism. But when Muller recruited “athletes”, we didn’t get the result that we wanted.

Zackly - and that's how he got where he is today . . . .

 

[crazzymark]

Same old song and dance called ISU basketball.

 

[ScoreboardDotRace]

Difference is, Muller had to go after unpolished athletes. Team like Kentucky have a much more developed basketball player athlete. Worked for him a bit, but way less room for error. And he missed on too many.

I think ISU will be competitive in the Valley play, but that’s a very broad brush statement.

My guess, they will see a lot of teams sag off and force them to shoot their way into being defended around the perimeter.

 

[TBS_20]

Its half way through year 2. its looking up. they are better than 2 years ago. 8-5, 2-0. even if they go 8-10 the rest of the way it's a winning regular season. progress is being made. they do need better peremter shooters but Pedon has given us no reason but to trust him. he fixed the post

 

[Hamdonger]

The biggest issue was we couldn't get out of the miss a shot/give up a basket trap. Happened on several posession changes.

We could do this to other teams if we looked for it and actively coached it. They're DAGGERS to the other team. One extra bucket per 10 minutes...that will translate to a number of additional wins...including StL. I'm not saying we have Kentucky's break. Only a handful of teams in college basketball have it. But our offense is average at best. Find ways to compensate for that! (and out of bounds conversions as well)

There, I said my peace. All in all, I have much more anticipation heading into January than I did a year ago! Thanks 'Birds!

 

[ISU86]

I find it ironic that much has been said / written about Kentucky’s athleticism. But when Muller recruited “athletes”, we didn’t get the result that we wanted.

One thing about Dan's teams is they tended to show better than expected versus the Power Five, it was those headscratchers versus lesser competition that was confounding.

 

[redbirds2000]

I find it ironic that much has been said / written about Kentucky’s athleticism. But when Muller recruited “athletes”, we didn’t get the result that we wanted.

UK is athletic AND skilled.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

I find it ironic that much has been said / written about Kentucky’s athleticism. But when Muller recruited “athletes”, we didn’t get the result that we wanted.

He recruited Kentucky’s best player. Averaged 20/game his last season with the Birds. Unfortunately not going to get athletes like Reeves at Illinois State too often. “O” was probably the last one.

 

[redbirds2000]

Same old song and dance called ISU basketball.

What did you realistically think was going to happen against a Top 10 team with possibly the best recruiting class in the country??

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Wish we could have kept it closer, but not disheartened. Kentucky is a machine and a potential Final 4 team. Watch for KY vs. Tenn as two of the best teams in the country. We played hard, Foster had a great game and was honestly the only body that could match up with the power of an SEC big. So many wide open three’s missed and once again poor free throws and overall shooting. KY shoots 57% from the floor and 44% from three. No team has a chance against that and their superior speed and athletes are dominant at any level. What I cannot take anymore is Lieb seeing the floor (even for 12 minutes). He is contributing nothing to this team outside of a tall body and occasional rebound. Why is he shooting three’s (again)?? No points and cannot make a free throw to save his life. Soooo disappointed that he is playing and Chase is not. What a waste of a transfer portal signing. We were bamboozled by the fact that he played for the Illini. I still do see this team performing above expectations in the MVC and finally putting the end to Thursday Night in St. Louis. Both Pence and Kasubke continue to baffle me beyond belief so far this year.

UK is too young to go the FF.

I find it ironic that much has been said / written about Kentucky’s athleticism. But when Muller recruited “athletes”, we didn’t get the result that we wanted.

Kentucky gets incredible athletes with high basketball skills.
Muller was getting one of those, but not both….

 

[Manchester Matt]

UK is too young to go the FF.

Kentucky gets incredible athletes with high basketball skills.
Muller was getting one of those, but not both….

A four, two fives and a nine seed went to the Final Four last year. Kentucky sure as hell can this year.

 

[cubird]

And KY has been beating good teams playing small ball. Now they have 2 of their 3 bigs playing. They have had young teams in the past, but Cal already has these guys playing as vets.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

He recruited Kentucky’s best player. Averaged 20/game his last season with the Birds. Unfortunately not going to get athletes like Reeves at Illinois State too often. “O” was probably the last one.

Jackie and Yarborough come to mind; the former was a stud forward Jank and then Muller kept trying to dream into a center, while the latter had all the tools but suffered from the dribble-yips.

Phil Fayne and DJ Horne get honorable mention. Reggie Lynch and Zach Lofton minus the hefty baggage could get a nod, too.